Tigers’ Fields, Cartwright have medically retired
Memphis offensive lineman Evan Fields and defensive lineman John Cartwright have medically retired, coach Ryan Silverfield said Saturday.
Neither Fields nor Cartwright, both juniors, were on the roster when spring practice began March 20. Both players also didn’t announce on social media that they had entered the transfer portal.
Fields started the final five games last season at left guard in place of Isaac Ellis, who started the first seven.
Ellis entered the transfer portal in late November and is now at Louisiana Tech.
Cartwright played seven games last season, with three starts. He had eight tackles, including one sack.
Both are the latest Tigers starters whose football careers ended early for medical reasons.
Starting linebacker Cole Mashburn retired after the season ended as did safety Sanchez Blake, who announced his decision in an interview on Youtube.
Fields’ departure means the Tigers’ offensive line returns three starters from last season. Silverfield added that Fields is on track to graduate this spring, as is Cartwright.
Cartwright and Blake’s departures, however, mean the defense is down six players who started at least one game last season. JJ Russell, Thomas Pickens and Jacobi Francis all exhausted their eligibility and former defensive lineman Morris Joseph entered the transfer portal a week before spring practice began.
Joseph committed to Georgia Tech.
Silverfield said he isn’t worried about losing depth because he expected it with the era of the transfer portal. It just means making sure more players get practice reps so they can be ready for a bigger role.
“There’s never any added pressure. We’re always going to have enough (depth),” Silverfield said.
“There’s going to be 33% roster turnover every year in college football and so there’s going to be guys constantly leaving. That’s the nature of where we’re at so to sit here and stress over it, I can’t. We got to continue to prepare our guys.”